If the people would want to use the toilets, they were only allowed to leave the gym by turns.
Electioneering?
About 8 a.m. the following day, the people were ordered to march to the streets, and forced to shout anti-communist slogans while carrying placards with similar messages.
“When we came back to the gym, there was a streamer with the message ‘Welcome Dato Arroyo’ printed on it, but he did not arrive,” the councilor said, “We then heard a soldier shout ‘Mabuhay si Dato Arroyo!’” (Cheers to Dato Arroyo!)
Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo is one of the sons of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He is currently running for the position of representative of the 1st district of Camarines Sur against Sabas “Abang” Mabulo, three-term mayor of San Fernando town. Dato Arroyo’s brother Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo is running for reelection as representative of the 2nd district of Pampanga in Central Luzon.
“These (seminars) only happened during the election campaign. They want to instill fear among the barangay officials,” said Mabulo, who relies primarily on the support of civil society organizations and religious leaders against the much vaunted political machinery of Arroyo.
“Sadly, in this district, the military seems to have continued to allow itself to be used in trampling the people’s economic and political rights. In this scenario, there is not much hope for genuine peace to reign in the district.” said Soc Banzuela, also a Bicolano and leader of Aksiyon para sa Kapayaan at Katarungan (AKKAPKA), a movement committed to active non-violence.
Renne Gumba, executive director of the Ateneo de Naga’s Institute of Politics, does not see anything politically productive as a result of direct intervention of either the military or the NPA. Instead of helping their respective causes, he said that it will be detrimental to the electoral process.
“It will endanger the 2007 election as the remaining legitimate arena for getting the sentiment of the people,” said Gumba. “These sentiments must neither be coerced nor influenced by others, but based on personal conviction and values,” added Gumba.
In an interview with Ces Drilon of ABS-CBN, the military denied campaigning for Dato Arroyo and campaigning against Bayan Muna (People First), Anakpawis (Toiling Masses), Gabriela Women’s Party and Kabataan Youth).
The seminars may have also intimidated the community leaders, making them think twice before openly supporting these party list groups.
“The military warned us once that we would be branded as NPAs if Bayan Muna wins,” a lady councilor said, “If Gabriela wins in our community, the military might think that we are also NPA members, and this is why we are becoming reluctant to vote for them.”
Mabulo said that the military in Camarines Sur is attempting to reverse the current situation that shows these party-list groups as having a significant number of supporters in rural areas. It is likely that soldiers are adopting the view that stoking the embers of an anti-communist hysteria can create a conflagration of fear, generating an aversion toward candidates perceived as assuming a progressive or left-leaning political stand.
Mabulo is not at all surprised if the military would link him to the activities of the NPA, particularly if he displays a strong performance during the campaign.
“For the military, it is over as far as the election in the first district is concerned,” Mabulo said. Undauntedly, however, the mayor refuses to call it quits amid constant pronouncements by the other camp that he had backed out from the race.
But instead of working for Arroyo, the seminars seemed to have produced a number of irate residents. “We lost two days of income. It was a waste of time,” the councilor said in describing the activity. He added in jest that the military’s erroneous belief of the efficacy of such seminars may even augur well for Mabulo’s campaign.
Stronger military presence
Aside from the issue of alleged partisanship of the military being raised by civil society organizations, they doubt the presidential son’s ability to resolve the problems of human rights violations and insurgency.
“If he wins, can we really expect Dato to defend his constituents when they become victims of violent conflicts, knowing that his mother signed the Human Security Act?” asked Calfoforo.
Banzuela predicts a stronger military presence in the province. “If Dato wins in Camarines Sur, we can be sure of an intensified militarization in the district. If he wins through military might and money, he will rule through them. Kawawa naman ang mga kababayan ko,” (I pity my provincemates.) he said.
What the Bicolanos should be getting instead are the promised social reforms, added Banzuela. “But they won’t have these. There is much to be desired in the track record of Dato’s family and their main political supporters when it comes to eradicating poverty in the rural communities,” he said. (Bulatlat.com)
